Autumn Colours in Ontario

We’re giving thanks for so much here at the old farmhouse, where my husband, his childhood friend Tasso and I just listened to the wonderful Shelagh Rogers interviewing me about the story behind my book A Good Home, on CBC Radio.

Imagine my first autumn in Canada. I’d come here from Jamaica, where the trees and shrubs didn’t change colours — unless you counted the parade of blooms on shrubs like bougainvillea and trees like the poinciana.

Autumn in Ontario was a wonderland of changing colours and scents. The fresh smell of a cool fall day, the rain having come overnight and disappeared by morning, replaced by brilliant sunshine. The smell of wood logs burning in the fireplace. The blazing colours of the trees. And the shrubs. And the pumpkins.

Photo by Hamlin Grange

Colours, glorious colours.

I had seen pictures, but the first time I beheld the autumn colours with my own eyes, I was astonished. When I realized that the leaves would soon fall and the maple and oak trees would be stripped of their glory, leaving bare branches and trunks…

Cynthia, I was so glad to be able to listen to your ‘Next Chapter’ interview today! You were WONDERFUL! Congratulations! You were able to cover a lot of ground with this and I really loved your dialogue with Ms. Rogers. Nice!!!!! Thank-you for giving us a ‘heads up’! Happy Thanksgiving to you and Hamlin!

And I am SO glad you like the interview. I remember that you strongly believed CBC Radio should interview me about this book. But I was terrified that the stuttering would begin, or the PTSD would knock me sideways. And now that I’ve heard it myself, and my relatives and friends are also happy with it, I feel a great sense of relief! (Gee whiz, I’m such a chicken on some days…)

Even though it’s not Thanksgiving here I give thanks that you were gathered together to listen to the interview; I give thanks that I could listen to the interview; and I give thanks that you gave the interview. Such a pleasure to listen to you and Shelagh. Such a pleasure. 🙂

Thank you, dear Gallivanta. Shelagh Rogers is one of the great interviewers. She’s celebrated here in Canada.
She and her team were kind to me. I see why she gets such wonderful interviews from her guests.

I finally listened to the interview tonight…kept getting distracted but eventually got back to it. What a lovely interview and a delight to hear your stories, in your voice:-) I enjoyed hearing you laugh:-) You have been through a lot + it is good to know you have found your way back:-)
I look forward to reading more of your stories:-)
I have never heard of CBC or Shelagh Rogers— it sounded a lot like NPR here in American BUT with lovely accents! delightful:-)

Hi Robbie: THANK YOU.
Glad you liked it.
CBC stands for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It’s similar to NPR and some CBC Radio programs are broadcast on NPR in the US too.
Accents: Shelagh’s voice is so lovely. As for me –gee whiz – I didn’t realize that I still say ‘hoose’ (for ‘House’).

Your story reminds me a bit of my sister-in-law, who moved here from Spain. Her Castillian chauvanism prevented her from expressing her admiration of the fall color, and she would only say, “In my country we do not paint the trees!”

What a lovely and touching interview! I love the pink house because I have my own “pink” house that keeps me inspired–it is my grandmother’s house–her front porch…her porch swing…and the smell of my grandfather’s pipe tobacco. It is a place that I visit often in my mind…and through a few photos that I have. That is why I sit a spell with a good cup of coffee 🙂

I struggle with finding myself in my new city. My little family and I have moved so much in the past few years that I have not had a chance to think about my own life…what I want to do. It is a struggle just managing my Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac–much less starting completely over in a place where I know absolutely no one except the hubby and the daughter! Your interview touched me…inspired me. I must dig out my old journals. Remember the talents that I have…how awesome for you to share your own struggles!

I am so glad that I sat a spell with you today and listened to your interview. It came at just the right moment for me. I think I will get out of my PJs and venture out. See what I can discover *smile*

I’m glad my interview helped, though I think I slipped up and referred to my journals as “those bloody journals” or “the damn’ journals” – yikes. You can dress me up but ya can’t take me out, especially when I’m crying…..

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Myrtle the Purple Turtle by Cynthia ReyesAn Honest House by Cynthia ReyesA Good Home by Cynthia ReyesFollow my author page on Amazon Author CentralConnect with me on Goodreads

Awards

An Honest House was the recipient of the 2016 Diamond Book Award, "Book of the Year"

Interviews

Cynthia Reyes featured on CBC Radio's The Next Chapter, interview with Shelagh Rogers about "A Good Home"Cynthia Reyes featured on Metro Morning, interview with Matt Galloway about "Myrtle the Purple Turtle"Use the hashtag #loveyourshell and share with the world what makes you YOU!